Poor man's sonar for larger waterbodies - Navionics Boating

[snake95]

Just wanted to share my experience with Navionics Boating app during recent kayak fishing trips.

 

It is a $15/year subscription and provides good clear bathymetry, plus other features.

 

I have used it on the water in a small reservoir in North Georgia, and it has been a great help at understanding underwater contours and features.

 

It is good for planning a trip to target features or areas of interest. 

 

It provides tracking so you can see your location relative to the contours when you are on the water.

 

I got it because I bought a Garmin Striker Plus that does not include maps. 

 

It is so useful and clear, that you could get this just to target places of interest without having a sonar.  While it doesn't show fish or structure or cover in profile, it would still really help someone getting to learn a lake, and later to target fishing spots more accurately on the water.

 

Only real catch?  You have to be willing to use your phone while on the water.

 

https://www.navionics.com/usa/mobile-usa.html

[MN Fisher]

38 minutes ago, snake95 said:

Only real catch?  You have to be willing to use your phone while on the water.

Or your tablet - I've got a clamp mount for my 8" Galaxy that I run that on...switched from I-Boating this year. It really does a good job...highly recommended for those who don't have maps on their fish-finder.

[snake95]

8 minutes ago, MN Fisher said:

Or your tablet - I've got a clamp mount for my 8" Galaxy

Awesome.  I had considered that also but didn't try it yet.  Two questions:

1. Do you use a waterpoof bag for the tablet; if so which one do you like?

2.  Do you have wifi to your tablet or are you are connecting phone to tablet? If so, do you just use the phone as a hotspot?

Thanks @MN Fisher

 

[MN Fisher]

2 minutes ago, snake95 said:

Awesome.  I had considered that also but didn't try it yet.  Two questions:

1. Do you use a waterpoof bag for the tablet; if so which one do you like?

Nope - just have a leash attached in case the tablet falls out of the mount.

3 minutes ago, snake95 said:

2.  Do you have wifi to your tablet or are you are connecting phone to tablet? If so, do you just use the phone as a hotspot?

Once the maps are downloaded, you don't need the Wi-Fi running - long as the tablet has GPS (mine does) you're good to go.